please log in to view this image A preview of Monday evenings game at Selhurst Park. please log in to view this image Once again, the international break has brought a halt to the season's proceedings. But for Big Sam it will surely be a blessing as he hurries to install the 'Big Sam infrastructure', with the new 'War Room' the latest feature to be added to the already fantastic Academy of Light. As a stat man I'm very happy with the techniques Sam is bringing aboard at Sunderland. The devil is always in the detail and with a poor performing squad the guidance bestowed can only be a positive thing. Conner Wickham will face his old club on Monday night after seeing most of his Crystal Palace career stalling at the gates due to injury. The half empty of our fan base will be worried he'll come back to haunt us. But as fans we've seen a lot of Connor over recent years and it's hard to see what he brings. He looks a power house but rarely imposed his strength on games. His decision making is appalling and his shooting even worse. Only sod's law points to Wickham as the threat, the reality is it's the sheer pace of the wide man where the danger lies. Alan Pardew will have picked up on our main weakness this season - The fullback positions. This is the challenge Allardyce faces as he looks take something from the game and add points to the board. Shoring up those areas giving the fullbacks adequate protection is clearly at the forefront of Big Sam's mind as he turned to the press to discus Jeremain Lens' work-rate. This could hand young Duncan Watmore consecutive starts for the first time in one of the wide births after showing more willing to pitch in defensively. The ever hard workingFabio Borini would be a sensible option for the other flank. Match Appointments Referee: Martin Atkinson Assistants: P Kirkup & D Bryan Fourth Official: G Scott Team News Crystal Palace Conner Wickham is fit to face his old side. Marouane Chamakh should also return to the side. Dwight Gayle remains sidelined. Sunderland Lee Cattermole, John O'Shea and Adam Mathews are all fit for the Palace trip meaning Big Sam has a fully fit squad to choose from. Head to Head 11 Apr 2015 Sunderland 1-4 Crystal Palace 03 Nov 2014 Crystal Palace 1-3 Sunderland 15 Mar 2014 Sunderland 0-0 Crystal Palace 31 Aug 2013 Crystal Palace 3-1 Sunderland 30 Jan 2007 Sunderland 0-0 Crystal Palace (Champ) 22 Dec 2006 Crystal Palace 1-0 Sunderland (Champ) 17 May 2004 Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace (Champ) 14 May 2004 Crystal Palace 3-2 Sunderland (Champ) 21 Apr 2004 Crystal Palace 3-0 Sunderland (Champ) 13 Sep 2003 Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace (Champ) Form Crystal Palace please log in to view this image Sun 8th Nov Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace Sat 31st Oct Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd Sat 24th Oct Leicester 1-0 Crystal Palace Sat 17th Oct Crystal Palace 1-3 West Ham Sat 3rd Oct Crystal Palace 2-0 West Brom Sun 27th Sep Watford 0-1 Crystal Palace Sunderland please log in to view this image Sat 7th Nov Sunderland 0-1 Southampton Sun 1st Nov Everton 6-2 Sunderland Sun 25th Oct Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle Sat 17th Oct West Brom 1-0 Sunderland Sat 3rd Oct Sunderland 2-2 West Ham Sat 26th Sep Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland Last Corresponding fixture please log in to view this image OPTA Facts 'n' Stats Crystal Palace and Sunderland have met four times in the Premier League in the last two seasons and Palace have had a different manager on each occasion. After this game, both sides will have had four different managers over the five meetings. There has been a 90th minute goal scored in three of the four Premier League meetings between Palace and Sunderland. There has been a red card in both of the Premier League meetings between Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park. Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against Crystal Palace. Nineteen points after twelve matches is Crystal Palace’s best start to a Premier League campaign. However, Palace have won only three of their last 10 Premier League outings at Selhurst Park (W3 D1 L6). Palace have scored the highest proportion of goals from set pieces in the top division this season (50%). Sunderland have only ever had fewer points after 12 matches in one of their previous 14 Premier League campaigns (five in 2005-06). The Black Cats have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games, drawing five and losing nine. Since winning this fixture last season, the Black Cats have played 20 away games in the Premier League winning just two (W2 D8 L10). Selected Fan Tweets Crystal Palace Sunderland http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2015/11/21/9775382/match-preview-crystal-palace-vs-sunderland-afc
Topper as always mate As we all know their pace will be the danger - if we can nullify that we might have a chance. I'm sure Sam will have worked tirelessly in that war room with a plan.
-----------Pantilimon----------- Yedlin---Oshea--Kaboul----Jones -----------Mvila--Catts----------- Johnson------Lens---------Borini -------------Fletcher-------------
Adam Mathews, can he only play rb? Yedin plays rw for the states, could that be an option for SA? Watmore to start, Palace have pace we need to counteract that. Catts to hoof nancy boy Wickham 6 ft in the air after 10 seconds.
"Big Funk Allardyce, post: 8611250, member: 1023141"]Notice anything fella?[/QUOTE] A mention in the selected tweets :-D
I hope Whickham plays instead of Bollasie !, I doubt it though he will be a sub. We should bring Watmore on with 15 mins left or if we are winning have 6 defenders on, as we dare not lose tomorrow.
Sunderpitt and his half empty - the other way to look at it is - if we win then we move up a place and we're only a point behind fourth bottom
Great match thread Bri, as ever. Fancy us for a point tonight, if we can contain their wide men and Catts keeps Cabaye in his pocket.
Oh you little tease. I hope so mate. It would be great to see Big Sam's early efforts at the club start to bear fruit. Bye the bye, most Bolton fans seemed to have good things to say about Sam but I was talking to a Hammers fan yesterday who was telling me that Sam only used to go into the office 3 days a week and never really got involved too much in training either. This just sounds different to what I thought was going on at the the Aol and SoL. I guess it might just be the usual local fan base rumour-mill.
If you are implying I am well pizzed off with the season already you are spot on. We played well against spuds and lost we played well against wistam and drew we played poorly against the nags and won. Against palace I hope we win I do not expect it. To score goals we have to pair Fletcher and Defoe and to keep a tight defence leave PvA and Coates/Brown at home. Have Catts ans M'Vila as DMs and Borini and Watmore as defensive winger. Palace have a couple of flying wingers. Johnson and Lens on the bench. Palace view... Sam Allerdyce looking like an advert for the Samaritans helpline. Cattermole committing a 'borderline assault' Sunderland to avoid using midfield except to defence. More hoofs than a cheap sausage factory.
For some unknown reason i think we will win tonight.. Tight at the back and hit them on the break 0-2 sunderland smash and grab
Me too, I have us for a 3-1 win in my predictions. We are gonna win one away from home sooner or later and Palace are better away from home than at their ground. Just got to keep it tight at the back
